Ely1

Artichoke. No question. Btw, I love your 3Ds - the black and white thing really does it for me, and your to-die-for stove omfg. Catch up soon, BB - you know how to reach us - Ely

I'm going over to drag you back personally if I must. You owe us smooth-as-silk vodka moments and I'll have that Yamazki whiskey ready with ice cube balls~~ If you need dry ice effect and march-in music, I can arrange for that too ~ - Ely

May be "simple Black and White" but they're lasting as **** and still as classy as it was 20 yrs ago. Love the dark bathrooms personally - Ely

Ooh I love anyone with an inspiration board! Sometimes you'd be surprised how far away the end product will be like It's amusing to me because I have a 27-page inspiration book I collated and nothing in my home looks like it ! Love those lights you picked, I wanted one of them you chose as well but ended up with some quite different. Not regretting completely except the "soft warm" bulbs are too bright white for me and cannot be dimmed. Sucks. Will be keeping an eye on your thread - Ely

I've not heard of anyone getting 6 drawers and switches for free and having 9 carpenters working at the same time... Think it would be quite a feat to even match your Deh Power (look where it got me??). Congrats on the permit, Ader and Seth - here it comes! Ready yourselves with lots of /facepalm moments k? - Ely

Um, yeah, I was sooo touched by their gesture. Was only disappointed they didn't come wrapped in a bow. The female even practices extra tender loving by leaving it wiggling and alive on my pillow so Mommy can really be proud. Usually, cats "present" their kills to those they love as a form of respect, like how cats in the wild have an eating hierarchy. Bondi and Maxey are a little more "obedient" because they tune in to my crazy shrieks and freak out themselves so they won't dare to bite intrusive pests but would use their paws effectively enough, at least I don't have to go around looking for spare legs and wings UGGGHHH. Gross. - Ely

Sure, everyone's invited as long as you're aware there would be adult drinking, a smoking area and a dog and cat (although they'll be contained) Perhaps you could have the kids wear horse blinders to the balcony (smoking area) or distract them with the amusing fat cat I don't think there are many smokers amongst us, but I know at least two Just thought I'll be as open and honest as possible (ie. not going to pretend I don't smoke, or spank my pets if your kids touch them and shriek - I'm fair - you just need to know who/what lives within the apartment and respect them like I respect everyone else's rules). Otherwise, there's pizza, alcohol, sparkling juice, guest amenities and David Foster's concert on the HTS to enjoy P.S. There would be NO group pictures oh gawd. Everyone frisked at entrance with a camera will be confiscated and only returned upon leaving - Ely

This blog is now regretfully closed. The legend of the Shopping Queen ends here. A huge thank you to everyone who has spent the time poring over the many pages of silly rambles and sharing this very monumental experience with me. I have made some really good friends here and am so grateful for all the support and encouragement extended towards me. P.S. it doesn't mean I won't be commenting and chatting on YOUR blogs! Much <3 Ely

Drama is the right word. People are unhappy with me today, and all I want to do is run away and stay in bed. I allow smoking (in designated areas now - before I allowed them to smoke anywhere), drinking, eating. When I didn't have the car, I ordered McDonalds for them, I leave butter cookies on the counter, they have chilled green tea, I ask them to take breaks sometimes, tell them to go for lunch, provide band-aids when I see cuts on their hands, give meds when one worker had gastric, and offer to turn on the aircon so they can work in comfort. Sometimes you feel nothing is do is ever enough. In a perfect world, they should be more grateful with my hospitality and treat me better, but it's not a perfect world. And this leaves me more disenchanted than anything else. Not the bad paint jobs or huge delays - but the disenchantment with this imperfect world and I being in it. - Ely

May's shelving guy came today, and my dad came up with me after giving me a lift. Shelving guy is quite annoying (maybe he's old, but phone conversations with him annoy me cos I've to keep repeating myself over and over), and he started to make small talk. My dad immediately blasted him!! Was so embarrassed >< He told him to stop asking irrelevant questions and to just do his job and not to waste time. Seeing the ex-military Dad in action really showed how I pale in comparison. Shelving guy came to work immediately and didn't dare to talk to me anymore. Of course, got lecture from Dad to not talk to them and to just ask them to do their job etc etc. Well, I think The Husband looks a little meek so the sub-cons are not afraid of him either. They will have to wait till he blows his top, since he's in the construction line and does his share of controlling his workers. Took more pictures of the paint job - there is a wall which is completely wet? It's weird. Dad commented they must have diluted the paint because you can still see the plaster underneath. It's like drops and streaks of moisture. Not sure what it is. Dad said to just stop the painting and to wallpaper but I kept quiet because we cannot afford more wallpaper. There's also a pic of the entire canister of paint over the toilet bowl. Thanks Marshy - It was great talking to you too! Did I mention how cute your earrings match your shoes? I'm quite friendly and love laughs but it can be intimidating to some (or so I've been told). Still working on a good balance - Ely

Hi footprint, I thank you for your kind intentions. I know it comes from a good place, but now not sure how things are going to turn out as I heard this morning that the boss is very, very unhappy about this Renotalk blog. I may close this down now. The poll will remain open so we can still arrange for all of you to come see the place in the flesh. Am not going to document anymore for the sake of protecting my ID. Please don't feel guilty at all! I really do appreciate all the help you've extended - fancy going out of your way to help me! So touched, but I don't my ID to be upset or get reprimanded by the boss. Obviously, Rick worked fast as I got an SMS early this morning. I feel that Ideal House is certainly very popular and reputable on this board, and that this one job shouldn't affect their reputation entirely. That was the reason why I went to Ideal House in the first place, from their recommendations on this forum and I'm not regretful at all with my ID. I know he is trying his best. But I certainly don't want anyone to get into trouble (maybe I'm being too nice again??). I don't know anymore - freedom of expression, documented evidence, truthful facts, sharing of opinions - it shouldn't be wrong, at all. Yet I feel bad. - Ely

Just to get a better idea of when to organise the gathering to fit everyone's schedule ETA: Sorry for the re-poll, but really didn't want to clash or have housewarmings back to back with Lady's R and RB's baby's first month so decided to shift the dates a little. Also catered more to weekends since I realise Friday nights are least popular - Ely

LOVE your inspiration board, and welcome to RT! I love vintage-retro-chic (The Husband not too keen on the shabby chic) so am going to be watching your progress! From your inspiration board, I think it's going to be a hit on RT! When I think vintage/retro bathrooms, I think pedestal sinks, wall sconces And of course, the infamous checkered black/white floors, and clawfoot tubs <3 - Ely

Oh trust me, if I re-enact the falling down part, you'll appreciate it more than the bathroom dance ! A U-shaped WIW is SCREAMING for a catwalk - remember to lay down the red carpet, klieg lights and a strutty song (how about Fergie's Glamorous?) - Ely

The former ID company - Ideal House. When The Husband questioned the painter about the paint being poured down the toilets, he said it's standard practice. So we didn't know what to say... The ID reprimanded the plaster guy for leaving all the debris on the roof, knowing the neighbours would lodge complaints but he didn't clear it (saying the rain would wash it away...), so The Husband had to jump over the railing and sweep everything up. I don't want it to come to a point where I snap, like Seth pointed out - it might be nasty, and I would feel really guilty after. I'll keep up the nice routine because I believe you treat people like you would like be to treated yourself, so I might get lucky with my persistent niceness and they might be touched. Naive, naive. I feel like a child because life still baffles me. I'm just too exhausted and stressed out to scold people anymore. I am simply too fu*king tired of all the crap that has been thrown at me (which is why I brought Maxey, my portable Prozac, with me to the house yesterday). BUT... Knowing how many of you are rooting for me definitely helps. I cannot thank all of you enough. It touches and heals me so deeply. - Ely

Hi Adi Wow, you've summarised everything well in that list. Reading it definitely gave me a jolt of reality! ... You're so generous with your compliments - thank you Adi Such a gem! And it shows that you really went through my loquacious t-blog! Too honoured. You don't look like the sort who can be scary though. Hard to imagine you being fierce. You seemed a little shy to me, in fact Meta-tags for teh win~ The ID knows I'm on Renotalk cos I casually remarked that I'm having a RT gathering, and that I was over at May's etc etc. I even said "How do you expect to inspire confidence with my dad if you're facing all these problems with my project?". My father REALLY did talk to him about the clogged pipes problem because I mentioned that the professional drainage guys were coming over. When the ID contacted my dad to schedule another meeting, my dad questioned him about it and he was upfront about the concrete rocks and rag, and my dad, naturally, blew his top~ ID apologised and said that he would meet him personally to explain...(?) I also found drawings on the painted walls in blue ink behind the doors. Diagrams that are totally not technical - like arrows and stuff. So the painters had to redo those walls. Not sure who is sabotaging my reno. AHHHH! Need a IV-drip of Valium~ Going to watch my adopted kitty videos - my Happy Place - Ely

Aww, May, you're still sweet! Especially in those pictures you framed - the girl next door smile and all Priceless! I'll try again tomorrow if the painters are willing to return. They were already not happy returning after the last minute plastering was done so I don't know if they'll turn up at all. ID simply said he'll TRY to get them to come back. I'll just lay out the d.a.m.n drinks for them so they won't touch my fridge. It's just such poor timing cos the cleaning is supposed to be done tomorrow too, and it's going to be rendered useless if they start painting again so either the cleaning gets postponed (again - yay for me), or the painters come on time in the morning. I make the effort to be there at 10am daily and staying till 8pm or longer, and usually I wait hours before anyone turns up. I'm sooo extremely tired. I try to keep busy by cleaning, trying to pack/clean whatever I can, DIY more crap, um surf eBay - Ely

I can haz Asahi? For a walk-in-robe like that, 23ft AND U-shaped - there's only thing everyone should do once we've calmed down with the shrieking - strut like Carrie Bradshaw on the catwalk complete with the turns and posed pouts (minus the falling down part). Here's a recap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDOdrcV5dfs - Ely

I'm still undecided about the date too, Lady R, though have penciled in your date in my calender. June 24 is RB's baby's first month/housewarming, patsy would be away 9 - 14 June - how about I take 2 July? Seriously need to do some poll~ Such a headache trying to coordinate! - Ely

Um did I mention "banana" girl? I can't read Mandarin ! I think it says "don't play with the old lady"? - Ely

Shall I bring Bondi over? Maxey recently alerted us to a rat in my parents' house. Was so proud of him, heart was bursting with pride. I'm glad he doesn't attack it either. Just follows the trail and tells us where it is. Jorja (a rescue Schnauzer) catches geckos, my late rescue Shih-Tzu would alert us to termites. Great to have a team of exterminators lol! The feral cats, of course, bring in all the maimed roaches and lizards and tenderly places them on my yoga mat or bed for "Proud Mommy"~ - Ely

Lol! Thank you Seth My sister-in-law calls me a cheapskate actually Depends on how you look at it - Ely

How to get you to help scold them? They might be angry I get reinforcements to help me, or angry that I must have said bad things about their work. Well, after meeting you, I know I won't be messing with you, even though you're so warm, giving and friendly, with a heart that's huge and whole and open. You just have that demeanor that spells a no-nonsense attitude and knowing exactly what you want, and not settling for anything less. Enviable traits - I hope I get there some day. Can't even get Deh right, how to get scolding right? And to combine them both for me would be disastrous - epic fail. You're right about something we chatted about on Whatsapp - they don't like the "banana" girl who seems to live a charmed life. They assume I'm naive, or living too enchanted a life to know any better (esp when they see me drive in , or cradling a Chihuahua etc). I still ask them to go home earlier and that I'll clean up for them, or they witness me cleaning up after them and they ask where's my maid~ Thanks about the glasses! We couldn't find anything we like at Ikea and these were very reasonably priced. - Ely

Not sure when eventually would come ! Yep 156cm, which is why I NEED those 4" heels but I better not say anything more about my height (oops, friends78!!). Oh I'm a tough gal though RAWR! I just hate being disregarded and dismissed by the contractors who think I'm some little lady with the IQ of Forest Gump (maybe should frame up Mensa cert~, or better yet, fishing rod in police evidence bag used to hit some idiot's head with his dried blood on it). I tend to be nice for as long as I can (faith in human kind and all that lofty ideals) and sometimes confronted with unacceptable behaviour, I don't know how to react. I hem and haw and appear like the Forest Gump they think I am. I know it would be useless trying to reason with them in regards to their expertise (oh, they have so many excuses from a 30-yr trade etc) so I would ask that they "change" it (eg "oh these edges don't seem smooth right? can you tell? I think we need to do a little touch-up, what do you think?", then "oh wow, this looks so much better! Thank you so much, you definitely did it right - this is pretty!") UGGGH. Stroking stupid egos seem a little demeaning but if it works better than my Deh Power, then I'll do it. RB set up a guide to online shopping at the Post-Reno section - you should check it out! - Ely

Why do I have such a weakness for white homes?? *knees wobbling and heart a-thumping* Beautiful place, nitrolil. Love the spaciousness of the Master bedroom and the entire home's simplicity really oozes class more than starkness. Gorgeous bathroom too, and I love your main door! - Ely